Tyler Moore is hitting .455 with four homers and 10 RBI in 11 games this month.

Yes, the entire Nationals lineup has turned things up a notch or five the last two nights in Denver. Twenty-three runs scored in 18 innings? Not even the most cockeyed optimist out there could have predicted that.

But let's turn our attention away for a moment from the sudden resurgence of the likes of Ryan Zimmerman, Michael Morse and Adam LaRoche and focus on really the only player who has consistently produced at the plate this month: Tyler Moore.

Yes, the 25-year-old rookie has been tearing the cover off the ball since the Nationals called him back up from Class AAA Syracuse on June 7. In 12 prior games — his first 12 in the big leagues — Moore looked a bit overwhelmed. He hit .158 (3-for-19), didn't drive in a run and didn't draw a walk.

Fast-forward to last night's game at Coors Field, when Moore demolished another home run into the thin mountain air and added two more hits for good measure to continue his remarkable turnaround. InRead more »

Wow.. good to wake up with the final result (couldn't last beyond 8 last night). TyMO is making his case to stay. Glad that ALR and JFlo got the night off. A day of rest is a good thing – especially since we won.I celebrated the one victory yesterday, but today it's the quiet golf clap. Glad JZ got an outrageous amount of run support, let's focus on the win today and prep for the Braves this weekend.Oh and WOOOOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOOO!!! GYFNG!!!!

I really, really like this kid, Moore. The guy hits unbelievable KILL SHOTS!!! I mean, absolute bombs. Now, this might sound crazy, but we could possibly include Moore in some kind of trade to get the center fielder we so desperately need. I may have the minority opinion, but oh well…On another note, my man, Matt Kemp, gets a big fat BOOOOOOOOOO for saying he won't put Harper in the home run derby. C'mon man!!! Anyway, I really think Ejax will continue the winning streak. GYFNG!!!!!

Great Quote from Kilgore's Article:Desmond described Moore as “not too cerebral as a hitter,” and he meant it as a compliment. Moore clears his mind when he hits and tries to keep his swing as short as he can. Desmond said the approach may have rubbed off on others. “I’m completely see-ball, hit-ball,” Moore said. “I’m not up there trying to think about a curveball or anything like that. If you dumb it down for me, I’ll be at my best.”I think they should move Danny's locker next to TyMo…

Who can turn the world on with his bat?Who can take a nothing day, and suddenly make it seem he's all that?or, if you prefer:I have heard people rant and rave and bellow, That we're done and we might as well be dead, But I'm only a cockeyed optimist,And I can't get it into my head. (Ed. note: And they're still in first place. ;-))On a game note, eh, I only made it into the 4th, MicheleS. Luckily, the game starts earlier today. And reposting: Yay, another happy game results email, with 11 runs, and 14 hits! Atta way, Nats bats! Atta way, Z'n(n)s! (How do you like that run support, Jordan? ;-))That, or he should get into a bar fight with him. :-)"I think they should move Danny's locker next to TyMo…"

MicheleS said… I think they should move Danny's locker next to TyMo… June 28, 2012 7:26 AM ______________________________MicheleS, you have me laughing. The approach yesterday was totally on rattling the Rookie call-up.Danny took the 1st pitch which was a ball 1. On Tuesday Danny swung at the 1st pitch of the game and flew out.The Rockies brainiac Manager told the world his pitchers were only going 75 pitches. The Nats rocked him and I can only remember 4 or 5 pitches where the Nats swung on his changeup out of the strike zone.

Gonat.. I would like Danny to move by TyMo because Danny thinks TOO MUCH. You can see him grinding mentally. Either that or sit him next to Gio for a game and let Gio get him to relax.And yes, it's great that the team is feasting on a bad team and a bad manager.

Nice MTM reference there, Mark. I'm watching this week's games from hot hot hot New Orleans, on the MLB At-Bat app, so I don't experience them in detail. But it looks to me like our bats have truly awakened and that CMW is struggling. Because I'm now on central time, games start at 7:40, but I've been in a music club during each one so far. I'm eager for another blow-out victory today in the thin mountain air against a handcuffed Rockies pitching staff. GYFNG!

When one can execute the "see ball, hit ball" plan, and then "BARREL UP THE FRIGGIN BALL" as well, not just good things happen….. GREAT things happen.In Falls Instructs of 2009 and 2010, Tyler showed great power but somewhat sketical plate discipline. He also looked like Adam Dunn trying to play first.It's great to see that proper developement has greatly improved his defense as a first baseman and that his short training period for playing left field has given him more playing time.But it's the improvement in plate discipline that has been most impressive. He swings at pitches that are strikes and kills pitches that are in his hittable zone. Let's see how the league adjusts to him and he to them.But I love his chances as he seems extremely coachable.

Yes, I'll take this win, because any win is GREAT!!! Finally JZim gets his run support. At the expense and confidence of an AA pitcher. Too bad….After today's win by EJax, It's Det, Stas and Gio in the Atl, right?I feel bad for Wang. He just looked lost on the mound.GYFNG!!!

"See the ball, hit the ball". Hmm . . .maybe Eckstein should try teaching that approach instead of the technical mumbo-jumbo that can mess you up.Kinda like trying to hit a golf ball with 14 thoughts going through your head during your backswing.

The most impressive feat from TyMo isn't his power or batting ability. He's merely going through a hot streak. He'll cool off and his numbers will return to non-MVP levels. It's inevitable, but he's proven he has immense power that translates to the big league level, and that doesn't just disappear.However, what most impresses me has been his patience at the plate! The biggest knock on him was his terrible plate discipline throughout the minors. He was walking something like 4.5% per plate appearance, which is really terrible. It showed big league pitchers would just find his weakness and exploit it. (And rest assured, they will. Moore is not the second-coming of Harper). But a patient hitter can learn from this and learn to lay off certain pitches. Moore is looking more and more like he might be able to develop that batter's eye. He's taken 6 BB in 58 PA, which gives him a robust 10.3% walk rate. If he can sustain it even around 7-8%, he could be quite successful. So even when his AVG inevitably drops to around .260, his OBP would remain in the .330s instead of the .290s.

Really like Moore's selectivity, ability to foul off junk and extend at-bats. Have been waiting to see the crimes he was charged with in the minors — long swing, big loop in swing, etc. — but so far haven't seen it. I think teams have been working off the old scouting reports. Pretty soon they'll start giving him the Harper treatment — away, away, away. Hope he will adjust and stay patient. If he turns out to be an injury-free Willingham we could do a lot worse.

NatsJack"But I love his chances as he seems extremely coachable."I've been tracking TyMo's career in the minors, but never saw him play until he got to the bigs, where he has been a game-changer so far, and may yet be a season-changer. Whoever taught him has tutored a monster bat. I'll bet JZ is glad to see him in the lineup. Davey really had no other option. This was an easy call.No way Rizzo trades this guy. He will not get equal value at a reasonable cost in return. I've noticed how ALR has taken to mentoring TyMo, always with a big smile on his face. They seem to have clicked, and its good to see ALR come out of his shell, a little. Besides, he looks like Tom Sawyer.That kid is good, at least with the bat. And he looked good at 1b last night, too.

It's easy to say this after watching these guys play what amounts to batting practice the last two games, but I've felt this way since spring training. I actually like our lineup when it's healthy. It's not all-star caliber, but in the scheme of our team strengths (pitching and defense), it should be enough to get the job done most days. It has a combination of talent and batting order protection that can score some runs, plus strong signs of development from the younger players. Will is right – Moore will regress a little, he has to – but in the meantime he'll show enough flash to be worth concern if you're an opposing pitcher. He's not just line-up fodder. Between the go-to guys and these new additions, I'm very happy the front office doesn't listen to the arm-chair GMs out there that would have them selling the farm for whatever bats are available on the market. We've got enough here and in the pipeline to make it work. This team is built to win on pitching (our embarrassment of riches).

Terpman:Now, this might sound crazy, but we could possibly include Moore in some kind of trade to get the center fielder we so desperately need. I may have the minority opinion, but oh well…———And what will you go with your current CF, Harper? Is he not good enough for you?

UnkyD, Im sure Harper is athletic enough to play centerfield, but everytime I listen to Charlie and Dave on the radio, or other knowledgeable baseball people, they all say the Nats future plan is to have Harper in right, Werth in left, and try to acquire a center fielder (Michael Bourn, Adam Jones(before the contract), Denard Span????) through trade or free agency. I don't think it was ever a long term plan to have Harper in CF.

I agree with Jimmy–Rockies' pitching is like taking BP. As FP said, it reminds him of the Nats' early years of bringing up minor leaguers to see if anyone could become an MLB pitcher.With Beachy and Hudson injured, let's see how we do this weekend against the Braves second-line pitchers like Minor and Delgado.

Love the Mary Tyler Moore reference. I love the that you wrote "might" because fans of the show know that the theme song in season one said "she might just make it after all", but by season two it was "she gonna make it after all'. Nice touch since this is Tyler first season.

So, when Werth gets back, what are we gonna do? Here's my idea. Between Werth, Moore, Morse, Harper, and LaRoche, you've got 3 guys who can play 1st, 2 can play CF, 4 that can play RF/LF. So, you set up a rotation where every guy plays 4 out of 5 days. That gives guys rest as the season goes on. If someone gets hurt, Lombo can sub-in (he can also sub-in in the infield) or you just go with the 4 guys left.BTW, I really like Johnatan Solano! Little Pudge!!!

Fast eddie said @ 9:22: With Beachy and Hudson injured, let's see how we do this weekend against the Braves second-line pitchers like Minor and Delgado. — you ain't as fast as you may think Steady Eddie said…While one can caveat this all one wants (terrible pitchers, Coors Field), we haven't been able to get the league average against lousy pitchers almost all season, the "Cy Whomever" syndrome we all know about. Well, the next five games are all against pitchers who are bad to worse this year — after Rocks we get Delgado, Minor, and Hanson (ERA7.35) in Atlanta, where we mashed in May. Here's our road to get well, unimpeded by anyone who looks anything like an ace.June 27, 2012 7:33 AM

Latest from my daughter the 6-weeks-Nats fan:She was out last night, rushed home and arrived and plopped herself down next to me on the couch. It was the bottom of the first.After her first question (what's the score?), the second sentence out of her mouth was…(ok, you have to picture this . . . she's just casually looking at the tv screen, JZ is pitching, and it's a typical shot from behind the pitcher. They kinda zoom in a little bit on the catcher so the tv viewer can see the signals that the catcher is showing. Got the picture in mind here? It's your typical view of the game that is seen 80% of the time during a game, right?)so the next words that come out of her mouth are: "oh, Solano's catching tonight?"I blurted out: "how did you know that?!"She: "I can see him"Me: "but he has his catcher's mask on! How can you recognize him?!"She just rolled her eyes (as if to say that I just asked a dumb question).

Fast Eddie? Hudson hurt? Are you thinking Daniel Hudson of the DBacks? He was the one that went out the other day in the game (against the braves) and now needs tommy john.I don't think Tim H is hurt (but I could be wrong). I think we get him on Sunday vs Gio

Lately, Ejax has been struggling at the start. Here's hoping he either finds his good pitches quickly, or we crush the ball early giving him a good lead to work with. Rock the Rox!Will miss all aspects of the game, anyone who can post important PBP on the blog, thanks in advance.GYFNG! (Go You Fabulous Nats GO!)

I agree with a lot of the posts here. I watch Moore "work the count" and get a lot of pitches on some AB's. I want this guy to play. I tell you what, if Moore is still hitting in late July, I would trade LaRoche at the deadline. With Wertgh coming back soon after, Moore just needs to play every day!

Doc, I really feel like last night was just a very good opportunity for Wang to get some work in. He had a lot of runs to protect bad pitches. But he needs to be throwing off the bump at real hitters. Did not see him pitch, but did he look better than last time?And Gonzo got a HUGE out for us the other night, with bases loaded, IIRC. Maybe he was trying out some things last night? In any case, it didn't matter except from perhaps a team ERA perspective. I prefer the wins stat.

Hudson was injured in the Barves/Dbacks game Tuesday night. But it was Daniel Hudson, not Timmy. No matter, let's rock him anyway. (you KNOW they are looking at our big bats heating up and just gulping.)

Eagle, I said if he hitting still at the end of July. Not that this is Ryan Howard, but I remember the Phils ignoring his minor league hitting and signing Thome. Two years later he needed to be traded to make room for Howard. Let Moore play!

JC, you're right, it is Hudson against us on Sunday. Not sure how I got to Hanson because going back to previous games in their rotation to see who's coming up against us gives you Hudson on (this past) Tuesday, which is also when Gio last started.Funny thing about that Tuesday game is that Hudson (Daniel) was the losing as well as the winning (Tim) pitcher.

No doubt, Moore needs to stay in there a while, and DJ says he will. But these young guys often start hot and fall back (Espi last year, Lombo this year) LaRoche is a proven guy, and his defense has been amazing…saving runs is just as important as driving them in, Tyler's not quite a 2 way player yet…

Eagle said Haha.It's hard to keep up with all these suggestions on how to "fix" the team with the best record in the NL.Not to mention that trading veteran talent at the supposed "top of the market" is something that losing teams trying to rebuild do. Winning teams that want to keep winning have surpluses of talent, on the 25-man as well as at AAA.

Love the story, Wonk. And the MTM references cracked me up.WHY would we trade for a CF when we have the guys we have? It makes no sense to me. We have more than enough guys we want to be everyday players. What we needed was the middle of the lineup to produce and they have started to. We don't have to trade anyone for a great team to field: we have it already. I'm enjoying the ride and love seeing who comes up to bat.

Winning teams that want to keep winning have surpluses of talent, on the 25-man as well as at AAA.ABSOLUTELY. Gotta have reserves. It is going to be HOT HOT HOT (and humid) in Atlanta over the weekend and the same 99+ in DC for the Giants series. Davey's got to rotate guys, this is not the moment for trades.

Forget trading Moore, lets keep him. Bottom line. the nxt few years as Harper, Strasburg and Zimmermann get older, they are going to get paid big dollars. Having a Moore at 1B can save some cash, so we can keep our core guys. Plus I think he is pretty good, it all about value.

Wait, I thought Tim Hudson left the game with forearm tightness – it was the other Hudson? Whatever — so I thought once we got through the NL East / AL East gauntlet things were going to get easier. Atlanta and then the Giants is getting easier? I don't think so. Every win is a win in the bank as far as I am concerned. You are supposed to do this against the lesser teams. Glad to see JZ get some run support for a change. They saved it all up for one game. I will beat the drum again for him to be in the Gold Glove conversation. Every game he makes the plays. Handles himself at the plate, too. If we can settle Detweiler in at the fifth spot we are good to go for a while. I am not going to worry about the Stras shutdown until I have to.

DC Wonk! Love the blossoming of a baseball fan story. Please keep us posted. I feel compelled to tell a story on the other end of the spectrum. Two years ago the Nats turned a rather weird triple play. Runners on 1st and 2nd. Flare to center. Both runners think its going to drop and take off. Nyjer picks it up off his shoetops and overthrows 2nd. The catcher retrieves it and fires to 2nd, tagging the base and the incoming runner. My wife walks into the room just as Carp is saying, "If you are scoring that at home, it's an 8-2-4 triple play." My wife says "2? How did a catcher get involved in a triple play??"I love that woman!

stealing from an old banner in RFK in 1976 after Billy Kilmer led the Skins to a huge upset over the Cardinals the week before, after taking abuse and criticism from fans, let's apply it to Ryan Z… "Forgive us Ryan, we know not what we boo… lol

T-Mo or lombardozzi or LaRoche with Werth on his way. Would you actually choose Werth's 34 year old bat over T-Mo's all things being equal? And there's still IL AllStar Corey Brown? Do they risk trading LaRoche's left-handed bat and replace it with Corey Brown's while moving Moore to third base? Do they send Lombo back to the minors or use as many experts predicted: as a young UTL? Spelling Desmond and especially Espinosa more frequently? Davey Johnson and Mike Rizzo have some interesting decisions to make in the second half. TradeRumors et al have them going after Span or Bourn or CarGo …Well it seems more likely they will go for more pitching now that CM Wang has proven he isn't up to starting … and doesn't look like much of a reliever … with a single pitch that he too often leaves up in the zone. If he can't be consistent with that sinker he's toast. Strasburg gets shutdown at 160 innings as prescribed. Storen comes back. EJax is gone at the end of the year unless they renew his contract. Seems like they just might try to make another run at Grienke and try to hammer out an extension with him at the same time. If the Nats managed to do that they would have the best starting rotation in major league baseball by leaps and bounds. And with the extensions it would continue into next year and the year after. Perhaps EJax would be a part of a three way trade to acquire Grienke? Rizzo and his FO haven't done one of those yet. its also possible for the Nats to extend EJax and go for Grienke. They would then end up with a lopsided right-handed rotation as was with Wang in the rotation … Given the wide difference in WAR between Grienke and EJax I have a hunch we may see Grienke again dealing with Ted Lerner. Its a high risk move, but it would provide the Nats with the perfect replacement for Strasburg when he gets shutdown. And next year when Stras is "freed" from the Tommy John's protocol? Best rotation bar none period end of story.

I realize how much fun it is to play faux GM but I am not doing anything at all right now. If we are still cruising close to the trade deadline, I might see what the "sellers" are pushing but I really like what we have right now and have for the last two months.I just read where Desmond has played all but one game and I still think we need to start giving players a day off here and there. Davey just did so with LaRoche and I would like to see us continue to rotate guys. We honestly have tremendous flexibility with this roster. Lombo can fill in at 2nd, 3rd & LF. Moore needs to play but can go LF & 1st. DaRosa is not great but can play both corner OF, 2nd & 3rd. Danny can rest Desmond for one day every 9 or 10. We have two CF's sitting on the bench that could give Harper a rest every week or 2. Wonk: didn't I get to wave at daughter at her first game? Keep up the great stories.Go Nats!!!

I'm surprised nobody is gushing over Jordan Zimmermann. Last night was his 15th start. The Nats are now 8-7 in his starts and in 7 of his starts he has only given up 1 earned run. His ERA sits at 2.77 which is 2nd on the Nats behind Strasburg.The quiet man is showing us why so many last year saw him as a 1A. 10 of JZim's 15 starts he has given up 2 runs or less. He is also averaging 6 1/2 innings per start.What Jordan needs to give us is a combo game of what we saw last night throwing free and easy with a lead but also show us how he can be totally shutdown with some of those no run performances.He has put himself back in the pitcher's Top 10 in the NL once again with last night's performance. Quite possibly he learned something about himself last night which is pitching with a lead is fun and he doesn't have to do it all himself.When someone criticized him for not being able to hold a lead sometimes, I thought, 1 or 2 runs to a starter going into the 7th is a tall order when you are winning 1-0 or 2-1. Its all perspective. I am hoping last night was a turning point for Jordan Zimmermann.

Peric, I have a feeling that Greinke has every intention of testing the FA market this off season with both the Yankees and the Red Sox looking for pitching and with the Dodgers as likely buyers as well as the Rangers and possibly the Phillies (should they lose Hammels) he is very likely to hit the jackpot and it's hard to imagine him giving that up at this stage. Like it or not Werth is ours for big bucks for 5 more years so I don't see him on the bench any time soon; with Harper as the other lock that only leaves one spot open for: Brown, Moore, Morse at least for this year. So no it makes no sense to add another big contract here from the outside.

Steve, I never lost faith in JZIM. To me he is a young Matt Cain. As I said before W/L records are deceiving and depend on many elements outside the pitcher's control. Let's lock him up for 5 years ASAP.

Ghost, I have been critical of JZ for not holding leads and letting stuff get to him, but you are spot-on. With all the craziness around him he just kept pitching his game. It seems like not only is he quiet and solid, but the game in his half-innings is solid.

I have a feeling that Greinke has every intention of testing the FA market this off season with both the Yankees and the Red Sox looking for pitching and with the Dodgers as likely buyers as well as the Rangers and possibly the Phillies (should they lose Hammels) he is very likely to hit the jackpot and it's hard to imagine him giving that up at this stage.I wouldn't underestimate the Lerners if that is Ted decides to do. He came very close last time remember? And Grienke said he was impressed and would definitely consider the Nationals when he became an FA.Remember Cliff Lee? And why he went to Philadelphia?Grienke is a baseball geek …Grienke, Strasburg, Gio Gonzalez, JZimnn, Detwiler … What happens if you trot that rotation in front of Grienke and say this is what its going to be like for the length of your contract? And you say but this year we are shutting Stras down to follow the protocol to protect his arm. So, you'd have to be the stopper … perhaps deep into October.I think he signs without thinking on it too long.

Section 215 Row A said… DC Wonk! Love the blossoming of a baseball fan story. Please keep us posted.Thanks, I'll try (but see below)sjm308 said… Wonk: didn't I get to wave at daughter at her first game?Yep — that was her. And that was the week she got addicted. (That was the night Hamels hit Bryce if I recall…)Keep up the great stories.I can try . . . but most of these stories are of the surprising things that come out of her mouth. Particularly the contrast between the things she's learned by watching, and huge holes in her knowledge base because she is such a newbie. As she's getting more knowledgeable, she's not saying so many surprises.OTOH, he had never heard of the All Star game before the other night. After I explained it to her, she thought for a second, and then approved the concept.

NatsLady said… Ken Rosenthal's ASG choices with explanations.Goes with Stras and Clip, omits Gio.Goes with ALR and Bryce, omits Desi.68-players-who-should-be-on-the-midsummer-classis-rosterhttp://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/mlb-all-star-game-68-players-who-should-be-on-the-midsummer-classis-roster-062712 June 28, 2012 11:45 AM There will be snubs, but I can see why Gio has recently fallen out of favor. Gio snubbed himself with some of his most recent starts. He fell out of the Top 10 in ERA and his BB/9 has climbed to 3 1/2 and his IP/start has dropped to 6.0. His H/9 is still best on the staff at 6.3.JZim and EJax have also made cases for themselves to be in Kansas City.Desi has made a case for himself. It all depends on what metrics you use to judge him. The NL is not the powerhouse it was last year in Shortstops so in a down year for SS's I could see Desi making a case for himself.Clip has once again thrust into the All Star picture. No doubt deserving.Bryce's recent 2 week slowdown will hurt his chances. 2 weeks ago he was a lock. How quick things change.

Very excellent point, peric. What happens if you trot that rotation in front of Grienke and say this is what its going to be like for the length of your contract? And you say but this year we are shutting Stras down to follow the protocol to protect his arm. So, you'd have to be the stopper … perhaps deep into October.I think he signs without thinking on it too long.

Peric, What are you giving the Brewers for his rights? I also think that at the end of the day with very few exceptions (Jerred Weaver) players don't leave any money on the table and you get the most when you have a bunch of teams vying for your services.

Ghost, I tweeted him back he should give Desi another look. Desi's great play didn't even make the MLB highlight reel because of other plays yesterday… Really? You have to feel Bryce's back is pretty bad, he never GIDP and now, what, three in three days? Just no power at all right now.

NatsLady said… Ghost, I have been critical of JZ for not holding leads and letting stuff get to him, but you are spot-on. With all the craziness around him he just kept pitching his game. It seems like not only is he quiet and solid, but the game in his half-innings is solid. June 28, 2012 11:54 AM I have to see that 5 hit shutout from him like last year when he threw 5 games giving up Zero earned runs. Of note, his best starts last year were mid-June and after. In June last year he had 3 games of zero earned runs including that complete game 4 hitter against the Angels.He has "no hit" stuff. His movement on his pitches get better as the weather gets hotter and his results are even better.

NatsLady said… Ghost, I tweeted him back he should give Desi another look. Desi's great play didn't even make the MLB highlight reel because of other plays yesterday… Really? You have to feel Bryce's back is pretty bad, he never GIDP and now, what, three in three days? Just no power at all right now. June 28, 2012 12:03 PM Way to go! I thought the same about Bryce. Even his double was a blooper. The quality of his hits aren't what we saw.I was kind of upset Davey didn't pull him in the 4th inning yesterday.Glad ALR got some rest. Time to start resting guys when the Nats face some RHP.

Ghost, right. I kept waiting all spring for him to DOMINATE, by which I meant 8+ innings of close to a no-no. Yesterday, in Coors, of all places, he gives up only 1 run. He's got it in him. Part of it is luck, of course, but with our D, there is a real chance for him to get a no-no.

He might have but Ankiel is also among the walking wounded and I'm not sure I want Bernie in center with Morse in right for 5 innings at Coors. That could go bad fast.I was kind of upset Davey didn't pull him in the 4th inning yesterday.

NatsLady, scarey. I had the same thought you just wrote. We all know Stras has no-no stuff and EJax has done it before and Gio probably not as he would have to last 130 pitches to get there. JZim certainly has it as his 4 hitter last year was masterful.Stras and JZim have both learned what pitch to contact means. The McCatty system works. Attack attack attack. Sometimes I want to jump through my TV and tell Gio that he has great stuff. Stop the darn nibbling. What I love about Stras is how he can dial up his fastball like Verlander when he needs the K. Stras goes from 95 to 98 effortlessly.I love 4/5ths of this pitching staff and love 5/7th's of the bullpen.

NatsLady said… He might have but Ankiel is also among the walking wounded and I'm not sure I want Bernie in center with Morse in right for 5 innings at Coors. That could go bad fast.Which is why Corey Brown needs to be here. Anyone can see Ank is really hurt. Davey and Rizzo are blind if they can't see that Harp needs 2 days off. Get Corey Brown up here.We can live with Moore, Brown, and Morse in the outfield for a few days.

It's clear (to me) Morse needs to be in the AL whether he likes it or not. Hope he has a big bopper year and we get something good in the off-season. Also, is it me, or has he put on a few pounds? Good for power, maybe not so good for D.

NatsLady.. thanks for the link to Rosenthal.On Gio, did you see the in game stuff with Kristina. Gio was literally changing his arm slot in the game to try and get the curve/breaking stuff to work. He had never pitched in coors so he had no idea what to expect. It wasn't a great outing, but man to make those kind of adjustments just tells you what a competitor he is.And JZ.. he was a bulldog. He must have been pinching himself with the runs and the fact that there was all the double plays behind him. Just remember King Felix won the Cy with a great ERA/Stats and a tepid W/L record.

MicheleS said… And JZ.. he was a bulldog. He must have been pinching himself with the runs and the fact that there was all the double plays behind him. Just remember King Felix won the Cy with a great ERA/Stats and a tepid W/L record. June 28, 2012 12:23 PM Pass me some Kool-Aid. He isn't there yet. I always say a #1 is 2 or 3 great outings away from Top Ace status.It could happen.

I think Peric is spot on about Grienke. He is a thoughtful young man and does not really seem to want the big spotlight situation but does want to pitch on a winner. I liked what he said after the Brewer signing about not wanting to impact Washington's future. I am also strong on signing Jackson but Peric does point out that we would be right-handed dominant. I am willing to be dominant if you are trotting out Strasburg, Grienke, Zimmnn, Gio and Jackson. You could still keep Detwiler back in the pen for spot starts and it would be just ridiculous pitching for years and years. Hell, with that group, we could take our names off the jerseys, start to look at pinstripes for a new uniform and alter the flagpoles at Nationals Park so there would be room for several pennants/WS flags.Love looking at moves like this but back to the reality that we still have a wonderful chance right now to make a huge statement.Go NatsOh, on All-star stuff. I want Bryce to take that time off and rest. I want Desmond to make it. I want Clippard to make it. Can't believe LaRoche will get there but I guess you never know. Of the two starting pitchers, Strasburg is a lock and with them having to take someone from each team I am betting we don't get more then 3 so Gio might be off.

Fear and Ignorance said… How funny is it going to be when Tommy Milone makes the All-Star team and Gio doesn't. June 28, 2012 12:25 PM Not sure where the humor is. Maybe some irony. One player has to go from the A's. Hope its Tommy Milone.Gio is still a better pitcher and when Gio gets enough confidence in attacking the batters and trusting his defense instead of nibbling in an all or nothing finality of walk or strikeout, he will have gotten even better.He won't change overnight. McCatty is trying to change him and unfortunately Gio regressed some. He has to look at these 7 and 8 pitch duels as unproductive.

I really feel bad for the Rockies fans.Rockies Pitching Coach needs a break We were like this a few years ago with injuries and lack of talent. Thankfully we did not have to contend with the thin air of Colorado too.

Do you realize that three of our stud starting pitchers have never pitched a full season? We compare them with fully seasoned veterans and we expect them to equal them. And they do it! Can you even imagine what a couple of years of experience will do for them? They are already so smart and learn so quickly. Great ceiling for all of them. Oh to be young and talented!

One thing on Grienke. Texas is now in on him and they have the prospects to get him. Texas also offers a low pressure environment (from a media/fan standpoint) and an excellent clubhouse. Not saying I don't want him, but other suiters may have a leg up on us. Plus their TV Rights fee has already been settled and they know the budget, ours is yet to be determined (we can spend Uncle Ted's money all we want, but this is a business and he will run it like one).

Fear – understood and I agree,it is a bit of a joke. On the other hand, with the Yankees losing two lefties in one day, is there any chance they will look to Syracuse and see a veteran lefty there who is available. They could take their pick (I know Lannan is a lefty, I think Duke is as well).

This is an interesting innovation. We've always had a scapegoat for the fans, usually someone whose name got misspelled in the process, like Cristian Guzman, or John LannEn; what if it could be someone who isn't actually on the team anymore?

SJM-I have a feeling the Yankees are thinking a little bigger than that. Also, believe it or not, the Yankees don't have much I would want anyways right now. Cano…but that certainly isn't happening. Would love to pull Greinke out of the hat, but just don't see that happening. Other teams are going to be more desperate and offer more.

although, if you read the actual article and not just the MLBTR blurb, Curry actually writes"Although he said he preferred to fill Pettitte’s and Sabathia’s spots from within, he seemed open to a trade."

I said a couple days ago that for the Nats to obtain Greinke, Rizzo would most likely need to prepare to offer the same package that he "allegedly" offered to the Royals: Jordan Zimmermann, Danny Espinosa and Drew Storen. He may be able to substitute Espinosa with Lombardozzi and an additional prospect. I doubt the Brewers would listen if Zimmermann is not on the table. Mind you, Rizzo would have to first receive a window to extend Greinke before consummating such a deal.

The Nationals are not willing to pay a fine in order to exceed their draft bonus pool, writes Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post. This is a corection to a story Kilgore wrote yesterday. Kilgore writes this stance will lower the amount the Nationals will be able to offer their first round draft pick Lucas Giolito.

Jeff read between the lines. The Nationals will likely exceed the draft bonus slot for Giolito just not enough to loss a draft pick. So any saving on the other picks, plus 4.99999…% that they would pay additional penality on but no draft pick loss. That is the real upper limit for the team.

I like watching Tyler Moore play. Adding to the teen-age daughter stories, I particularly get a laugh out of the fact that my 17 year old daughter blushes any time he's shown on camera – something about his eyes and Southern accent she tells me. To give props to my daughter though she's been a fan since the team arrived. She can play too – a soon to be D-I softball player. (Sorry for the proud dad moment)Having said that, let's not get carried away. All the TyMo excitement reminds me of how everyone felt when Lombo got off to a hot start. The DFA list is littered with guys who raked in their first 50 MLB ABs. Let's see him sustain it before we anoint him. Also on the speculation about what to do with Corey Brown and Lombo. I firmly believe that teams like to put players into roles they believe fit them long -term. The Nats do not mind sitting Lombo for extended periods in the big leagues because they see him long-term as a utility player. He filling the role right now he will have long term. Corey Brown on the other hand is seen as someone who could develop into an every day player. The Nats are probably loathe to promote him until they see an every day role for him. They'd rather he play every day in AAA, particularly since his development time was stunted with injury. Bringing him up to fill the Rick Ankiel role won't happen.

jeffwx, interesting on Giolito. It won't get much better for Giolito waiting after College. Sure thing bonus money now plus Minor League time vs. pitching for a College who may ride you like a rented mule is probably what CAA is trying to convey.CAA doesn't get paid if he doesn't sign. It is in their best interest to get him now. They know they can lose him to Boras when he comes out of UCLA.Also DC is a great situation. He could be drafted #1 overall in a few years and end up in a cr-phole like Colorado.

#4 said… Having said that, let's not get carried away. All the TyMo excitement reminds me of how everyone felt when Lombo got off to a hot start. The DFA list is littered with guys who raked in their first 50 MLB ABs. Let's see him sustain it before we anoint him. #4, congrats on the D1 for your daughter! I was waiting for someone to throw a nasty in the TyMo kool-aid.No comparison between TyMo and Lombo. All you have to do is look at the quality of their hits and BABIP.We all know TyMo won't be a .340 hitter long-term, but he made adjustments 2nd time around. When they start pitching around him to cool him off we will have to see how patient he is at the plate. You are right, 58 PAs isn't a whole lot.That is why you ride the "hot hand" and hope he makes the adjustments necessary to be effective. The league is cruel to most hot rookies, just ask Lombo which leads me into the Lombo discussion. Rizzo should do what they did with TyMo. Send him down and let him figure it out in AAA and right himself.This team is taking shape and when Storen and Werth are ready to return and possibly an acquisition or 2, this team may look very different on August 15th.For now, ride the "hot hand" and never bite the hand that feeds you!

In watching Moore at the plate in this second call-up, I have the feeling that he is up to stay. His pitch selection and patience are excellent. He almost always puts the ball in play and hits it hard. I would put him in left until Werth is back just to see what we have. He hit over 60 homers in the minors, and we need that kind of pop. Corey Brown needs some playing time this year as well. Moore, Brown and Lombo could give the Nats a lot of flexibility going forward.

I, otoh, don't much care who puts them there, but I'd very much like for them to end up there. :-)NatsLady said… Pittsburgh already put up a 5-spot against the Fillies with only 1 out in the first inning. I'm all for them being in the basement, but I kinda wanted to put them there. June 28, 2012 1:17 PM